Southern California -- this just in

CHP officer stabbed nine times on Riverside freeway overpass

October 26, 2012 | 12:05
pm

A California Highway Patrol officer was in stable condition
Friday after being repeatedly stabbed in his back, arms, face and eye by a man
he was trying to stop from climbing the fence of a freeway overpass in
Riverside.

Javier Hernandez Rios, 45, was booked into the Riverside
County jail on suspicion of mayhem and attempted murder of a peace officer. He also was charged with assault with a deadly weapon on a peace officer for the
attempted stabbing of two off-duty officers who intervened.

The incident unfolded when the CHP responded to a 911 call
Thursday at 9:51 p.m. that a man was climbing an overpass fence on La Sierra
Avenue at Highway 91 in Riverside. The caller believed the man was going
to jump onto the freeway, according to Riverside police Sgt. David Amador.

Amador said the CHP officer, whose identity was not
released, grabbed Rios’ legs. The suspect then allegedly produced a medium-sized
pocket knife and began stabbing the officer.

An off-duty Riverside police
officer and an off-duty San Bernardino County sheriff’s sergeant passing by in
separate vehicles both stopped to assist, and the suspect allegedly attempted to
stab them but missed, Amador said.

The suspect stopped resisting and was
handcuffed after a second CHP officer arrived and shot a rubber bullet at him, Amador
said.

The CHP officer sustained nine stab wounds and was scheduled
to undergo surgery Friday on his eye, Amador said. Rios was treated for
minor injuries sustained during the alleged altercation.

Amador said police investigators suspect Rios was high on
methamphetamines and possibly heroin, inducing paranoia that drove him to climb
the freeway overpass fence. The suspect was lucid during the interview and told
investigators he was trying to get away from what he thought were police following
him all day, Amador said.

“We initially thought he was trying to commit suicide but we
no longer believe that,” Amador said. “We don’t believe he has any mental
problems; we think he was under the influence of drugs.”

Amador said Rios appeared to be a habitual drug user who was
unemployed and lived in a motel with his wife. He has a criminal history of
domestic violence, Amador said.